By: Brad Conroy
Naquele Tempo is Roland Dyens’ incredible collection of solo classical guitar arrangements of works written by the Brazilian composer, Alfredo da Rocha Viana, Jr.(1897-1973), better known as Pixinguinha (pronounced, Pish-in-GUI-nia). Pixinguinha’s music was originally written for small jazz ensembles and is characteristically expressive, innovative, and rich with melody and complex harmonies. His pieces have an improvisational feeling to them and contain all the elements representative of an expert composer.
Dyens’ arrangements incorporate his trademark touches such as string slaps, percussive tapping on the body of the guitar and playing behind the nut. These added effects bring forth the deepest nuances of each piece and help create the illusion that this music was originally written for the guitar. Dyens performs Pixinguinha’s music without losing any of its beauty or brilliance, and manages to do so with clean execution, balance, expression, and grace.
Pixinguinha is an icon of Brazilian music and is often considered “the father of the Choro.” He was a virtuoso instrumentalist, composer, arranger, band leader, teacher, and even became the musical ambassador for Brazil at one point in his career. He dedicated his life to the popular music of Brazil, particularly the Choro, which in Portuguese means “a cry”. Pixinguinha possessed virtuosic technique on the instruments he played, the flute and tenor saxophone, which is apparent in his use of dazzling scales and arpeggios throughout his compositions. He possessed an incredible melodic gift and his music mixes the rhythms of his Portuguese and African roots with improvisation, tying it all together with his understanding of European trends in harmony and instrumentation.
“Proezas de Solon,” the CD’s opener, is a very attractive and playful piece and a perfect depiction of the Brazilian Choro with its upbeat tempo, catchy melody, and rondo type form. Dyens performs the piece with technical precision and grace, portraying the sense that he is deeply passionate about this music. In the liner notes Dyens alludes to the fact that he was born listening to this music and secretly studied it alongside his classical studies as a young guitarist in Paris. His passion for this music shines through in his detailed arrangements and passionate performances.
The tunes “Rosa” and “Carinhoso” demonstrate the slower and more contemplative side of the Choro. “Rosa” begins with a statement of the melody that is perfectly executed in harmonics. Dyens maintains a soft, mellow, and clear tone throughout the piece, capturing the mood and conjuring up images of a beautiful love song, culminating in a very expressive performance.
“Carinhoso” (affection), which was originally recorded in 1928, is an incredible example of Pixinguinha’s development of the Choro. He strays from the three part rondo form and introduces a more simple structure. Even though the structure is simplified, the melody is very seductive and the harmonic progression of “Carinhoso” is quiet advanced.
“Gargalhada” opens with the sounds of a snare drum, which Dyens produces on his guitar by twisting the fifth and sixth strings together, then striking them to achieve a metal on metal type sound. “Gargalhada” means “laughter,” and this piece conjures up the image of a street festival or fanfare. It has an upbeat tempo and is filled with virtuosic scale lines, which Dyens executes with the utmost precision. The counterpoint harmony makes it slightly reminiscent of a Scarlatti keyboard sonata and is an example of the depths and diversity of Pixinguinha’s compositional style.
Naquele Tempo is a tribute to Pixinguinha the great Brazilian master composer, and Dyens has done a brilliant job arranging his music for solo guitar. Pixinguinha’s music is wonderfully written and draws upon many diverse elements; melodic development, lush harmonies, improvisation, counterpoint, the sounds of a Brazilian street fair and a 1920’s dance hall music, to name a few. Dyens has put his heart and soul into this project, which breathes through in the expressive performances and the detailed arrangements he has worked out. This music will excite a wide range of audiences and the arrangements will no doubt find their way into the core repertoire of the modern classical guitarist.
Track Listing
1-Proezas de Solon
2-Desprezado
3-Rosa
4-Atencioso
5-Ingenuo
6-Gargalhada
7-Oscarina
8-Lamentos
9-Naquele Tempo
10-Carinhoso
11-Um a zero
Links
Naquele Tempo – Music of the Brazilian Master Pixinguinha on Amazon
